EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
EDUCATIONAL POLICIES COMMITTEE
Annual Report 2010-2011
I. Membership
EPC:
Hillary Hertzog, Chair
Tim Black
Don Brownlee
Vicki Pedone
Diane Schwartz
Konstatinos. Vrongistinos
Larry Becker
Rishma Vedd (Presidential Appointee)
David Wakefield (Presidential Appointee)
Vacant
Cynthia Rawitch (Executive Secretary)
Gregory Mena (Recording Secretary)
Education
Philosophy
Communication Studies
Geological Sciences
Computer Sciences
Kinesiology
Political Science
Accounting and IS
Child and Adolescent Development
Associated Students
Undergraduate Studies
Undergraduate Studies
General Education Council – Subcommittee to EPC:
Rosa Furumoto, Chair
Chicana/o Studies
Cecile Bendavid
Computer Science
Damien Christian
Physics and Astronomy
Shartriya Collier
Elementary Education
Eric Garcia
University Library
Ed Jackiewicz
Geography
Jan Tolan
Recreation and Tourism Mgmt.
Sung Wook Yoon
Accounting and Information Systems
Susana Eng
University Library
Lynette Henderson
Art
Sharon Klein
English
Gloria Melara
Computer Science
Vacant
Associated Students
Bonnie Paller (Non-voting)
Undergraduate Studies
Gregory Mena (Recording Secretary)
Undergraduate Studies
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EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
II. Meetings
EPC:
Fall 2010
September 1
September 15
September 29
October 13
October 27
November 10
December 1
Spring 2011
February 16
March 16
March 30
April 20
May 4
GEC:
Fall 2010
September 23
October 8
October 21
November 5
November 18
December 3
Spring 2011
February 10
February 25
March 10
March 23
March 25
April 15
April 28
III. Undergraduate Program Review in 2010-2011 Bonnie Paller managed the Program
Review process during 2010-2011. Program Review assignments are listed below.
Program
EPC Representative
Philosophy
Kinesiology
Sociology
Chicana/o Studies
Don Brownlee
Vicki Pedone
Konstantinos Vrongistinos
Diane Schwartz
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EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
IV. Curriculum Reviews
For 2010-2011, the General Education Council (GEC) functioned as a subcommittee to the
Educational Policies Committee (EPC).
EPC reviewed and approved 260 proposals during the academic year including new
programs, program modifications, experimental courses, new courses, course
modifications, and S/C Factor curriculum. The table below shows tallies by type and
semester.
Proposal Type New Courses Course Modifications New Programs Program Modifications Experimental Courses Selected Topics Total Fall 10 Spring 11 Total 43 19 62 114 33 147 2 1 3 18 7 25 7 2 9 7 191 7 69 14 260 The three new programs were all new minors:
•
•
•
Minor in Sustainability
Minor in Health Sciences for Teachers
Minor in Business Law
Lists of all of the approved curriculum proposals can be found in the EPC minutes at
http://www.csun.edu/epc/.
V. Recertification
The GE Council used the Spring 2008 Recertification Guidelines to review and approve
for GE recertification a portion of Social Science General Education courses.
New recertification guidelines were established and approved in Spring 2011 for use in
Fall 2011-2012 academic year. The new recertification guidelines can be found at
http://www.csun.edu/epc/.
GE Council approved approximately 20 proposals including new GE courses, GE course
modifications and IC designation proposals during the academic year.
VI. Policy Recommendations
A. Faculty Senate passed the following UDWPE Policy sponsored by EPC:
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EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
The University has implemented the CSU Trustee Policy for the Writing Skills
Graduation Requirement for all Upper-Division students. All students must pass
the Upper Division Writing Proficiency Examination (UDWPE) as a
requirement for graduation.
1. Undergraduate students are encouraged to attempt the UDWPE as early as
possible after completing 56 units and meeting the Lower Division writing
requirement. Students must take the UDWPE no later than the semester in
which 75 units are completed. Students who have not taken the UDWPE by
the completion of 75 units will have a registration hold placed on their
subsequent registration.
2. The UDWPE shall consist of an essay on an assigned topic evaluated by the
faculty.
3. The evaluation criteria shall include: 1) a demonstration of analytic skills, (2)
use of relevant evidence to support an argument, (3) effective organization,
(4) use of standard English grammar, diction and mechanics.
4. Transfer students are encouraged to take the UDWPE as early as possible
after being admitted for transfer. Transfer students must attempt the
examination no later than the semester in which 75 units are completed.
Transfer students coming into the university with 75 units already completed
must attempt the examination during their first semester at CSUN.
5. Students who fail the exam shall be permitted to repeat the examination.
However, before repeating the exam, it is recommended that students take
further steps to improve their writing skills by contacting the Learning
Resource Center or completing an appropriate writing course.
6. Administrations of the examination will be announced on CSUN’s UDWPE
and Testing Center websites.
7. The examination will be scheduled at least five times within an academic
year.
8. Students may register for the exam at University Cash Services.
According to CSU policy, certification of graduation writing competence shall be
transferable from one CSU campus to another.
B. EPC passed the following Internship policy on April 20, 2011:
Internships that allow students to earn academic credit must meet Carnegie and faculty workload standards (http://www.csun.edu/epc/documents/Course%20Classification.pdf) related to required hours and additional pedagogical and risk management standards required by the California State University and Cal State Northridge. Each College is responsible for maintaining data that will ensure compliance with current academic standards and risk management policies (http://blogs.csun.edu/ugs/). Page 4 of 7
EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
I. Definitions
a.
Academic Internships are one category of classes in which
experience is the predominant teaching-learning mode and include applied
and practical experiences that are linked to students’ academic study and
professional preparation. This faculty-approved and -facilitated experience
shall normally be in organizations other than the academic departments
offering the courses. These courses shall include significant involvement
of students and faculty in planning, processing, and evaluating the learning
resulting from these experiences. Normally, Academic Internship courses
shall be at the upper division or graduate level.
b.
For the purpose of hours and unit requirement related to this
policy, Academic Internships shall not include supervised student
teaching, required work in credential pathways, or clinical experiences
(the specific nomenclature of which is determined by the accrediting or
licensing agency which regulates the profession). Programs excluded
through this provision must comply with Carnegie standards and risk
management policy.
II. Course Elements
a.
Academic Internships shall include the following elements:
1. Identified relationship to the academic discipline(s) offering the
course.
2. Screening or selection procedures for students seeking to enroll in
these courses, which shall be designated as restricted.
3. An orientation to experiential learning concepts.
4. In addition to a syllabus, a written learning agreement or contract
accepted by the student, faculty member and on-site supervisor
describing the rules and regulations, activities, learning processes,
and evaluation methods used in the course.
5. At minimum, student performance shall be evaluated by the
instructor at the middle and end of the semester. Input from the onsite supervisor is advisable.
6. Students will be required to evaluate the quality of the field
experiences.
7. Facilitation of student learning by the CSUN instructor and/or onsite supervisor during the on-going experience.
8. Compliance with all risk management requirements.
III. Credit and Grading
a.
Academic credit shall be granted upon the faculty member’s
determination of student learning. This process for final determination of
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EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
academic credit shall be defined in the learning agreement and may
include contributions by the student and on-site supervisor.
b.
Normally, students’ performances in Academic Internships shall be
evaluated on a Credit/No Credit basis. For new courses, upon justification
by the academic department and approval by Educational Policies
Committee (EPC) or Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), a different basis
of grading may be added.
c.
Academic Internship credit shall not be granted after the fact or for
prior life experience.
IV. Hours and Units (See I b for exemptions)
a.
12 hours minimum of contact with CSUN faculty is required per
course.
b.
A total of 45 work/faculty contact hours is expected per unit per
semester.
c.
Upon approval of EPC or GSC, departmental programs may create
hour requirements that exceed 45 hours per unit.
d.
A maximum of three units of internship credit is normally
permitted per semester.
e.
Normally, a student may count no more than 6 units of Academic
Internship course credit toward an undergraduate major. However, upon
justification by the department, EPC may allow up to a total of 12 units. A
student may count no more than 12 units of Academic Internship course
credit toward a baccalaureate degree.
V. Course Designation
a.
Departments may not offer Academic Internships under a 499,
599 or 699 designation as Independent Study. Departments seeking new
internship courses for the first time should use the 494 or 594 designation.
VI. Non-Discrimination
a.
The University and the participating organizations shall adhere to
all current CSUN and CSU non-discrimination policies.
VII. Date of Implementation
This policy will be included in the next edition of the CSUN University
Catalog. However, this policy is effective immediately.
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EPC Annual Report 2010-2011
C. EPC passed the following Basic Skills Policy on May 4, 2011:
All four sections of Basic Skills coursework must be completed by students within their first 60 units. Mandatory advisement of all freshmen will help students to meet this requirement. Coursework must be completed as follows: 1) Students will begin coursework in analytical reading and expository writing and in mathematics during their first semester. Students will continue to enroll sequentially each semester in the appropriate analytical reading and expository writing and mathematics courses until they complete GE writing and math requirements of Basic Skills coursework. Completion of these requirements must be within the first four semesters or 60 units, whichever comes first. 2) Students will complete coursework in GE oral communication and GE critical thinking within the first 60 units. Page 7 of 7